Wärtsilä power for six Keppel FELS offshore rigs

Wärtsilä Corporation

Trade press release

6 October 2005 at 9:00 AM E. Europe Standard Time

Wärtsilä Corporation has been awarded contracts with a total value of above 50 million EUR, by Keppel FELS Ltd in Singapore for 32 diesel generating sets to power four jack-up rigs and two semi-submersible drilling platforms. The combined output of these orders is about 115 MW. Wärtsilä will also supply steerable thrusters for the semi-submersible platforms.

The rigs and platforms are being built at Keppel FELS Ltd for the Danish company A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S. The first of the jack-up rigs is due for delivery in the fourth quarter 2007, and the semi-submersible platforms are due to be delivered in 2008 and 2009.

The four jack-up rigs are of the CJ50 design from Marine Structure Consultants. They can operate in water depths of up to 106.7 m, and drill high-pressure wells down to 9144 m. The main power supply on each rig will be provided by four eight-cylinder Wärtsilä 26 generating sets with a combined electrical output of 9600 kWe.

For these jack-up rigs, the Wärtsilä generating sets have the benefits of compact dimensions for their power output and an excellent load-response capability for the rapidly changing electrical load when drilling.

The two semi-submersible drilling platforms are of the DSS 21 design developed by Keppel and Marine Structure Consultants. They are to be employed for development drilling in deep water up to 3000 m deep and are designed for year round operation in regions such as off West Africa, Brazil, Gulf of Mexico and South East Asia.

Each semi-submersible will have a dynamic positioning system with eight electrically-driven Wärtsilä Lips steerable thrusters. The platforms will also be able to be attached to a pre-laid mooring system. The semi-submersible platforms will each be equipped with eight 16-cylinder Wärtsilä 26 generating sets having a combined electrical output of 38,720 kWe.

Keppel FELS is already experienced with Wärtsilä generating sets and thrusters in previous rigs and platforms built by Keppel FELS. Four previous jack-up rigs were each equipped with five six-cylinder Wärtsilä 26 generating sets. Also for a previous platform Wärtsilä supplied five 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 26 generating sets and an outfit of steerable thrusters.

Keppel FELS is a world leader in the construction of offshore jack-up drilling rigs, semi-submersible platforms and other offshore facilities for the oil and gas industry.

The A.P. Moller - Maersk Group, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a major international enterprise with activities covering diverse areas such as shipping, oil and gas exploration and production, shipbuilding, aviation, industry and retail. The Group fleet comprises more than 250 vessels with a total deadweight of about 12 million tonnes and includes container ships, tankers, car carriers, offshore supply vessels and drilling rigs.

About Wärtsilä

Wärtsilä is a global leader in smart technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising sustainable innovation, total efficiency and data analytics, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers.